The Western Cape remains South Africa’s highest wheat producer, with a year-to-date yield of 903 300 tonnes, according to figures released on Tuesday following the fourth production sitting for winter crops held by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC).

The country’s total wheat production estimate has been left unchanged at 1.86 million tonnes.

The Free State managed 365 000 tonnes and the Northern Cape 294 500.

The CEC also revealed that the country’s surface estimate for wheat farming was 503 350 in total, with the Western Cape, Free State and Northern Cape respectively with 318 000, 100 000, and 8 000 hectares under crops.

Grain SA economist Luan van der Walt said canola yields for 2018 had also been left unchanged, whereas barley had gone up.

He added that the Western Cape’s production results should be seen against a backdrop of recent wind damage incurred during a harvesting period.

Van der Walt also mentioned that the Free State’s yield was significantly strong although heat and dry conditions across the province had eaten into projected harvesting figures.

As for the Northern Cape, the wheat sector is growing thanks to progressive irrigation development.